A latitudinal cline in flowering time accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana has been widely predicted because the environmental cues that promote vary systematically with latitude, but evidence for such clines lacking. Here, we report a significant among 70 Northern European and Mediterranean ecotypes when grown under ecologically realistic conditions common garden environment. The detected cline, however, is found only alleles gene FRIGIDA (FRI) lack major deletions would disrupt protein...

Natural populations persist in complex environments, where biotic stressors, such as pathogen and insect communities, fluctuate temporally spatially. These shifting pressures generate heterogeneous selective forces that can maintain standing natural variation within a species. To directly test if genes containing causal for the Arabidopsis thaliana defensive compounds, glucosinolates (GSL) control field fitness are therefore subject to selection, we conducted multi-year trial using lines...

The dynamics of local climates make development agricultural strategies challenging. Yield improvement has progressed slowly, especially in drought-prone regions where annual crop production suffers from episodic aridity. Underlying drought responses are circadian and diel control gene expression that regulate daily variations metabolic physiological pathways. To identify transcriptomic changes occur the Brassica rapa during initial perception drought, we applied a co-expression network...

Climate models predict widespread increases in both drought intensity and duration the next decades. Although water deficiency is a significant determinant of plant survival, limited understanding responses to extreme impedes forecasts forest crop productivity under increasing aridity. Drought induces suite physiological responses; however, we lack an accurate mechanistic description response lethal that would improve predictive mortality altered climate conditions. Here, proxies for leaf...

.— Under competitive conditions, stem elongation in plants is thought to enhance fitness by increasing light interception. However, the onset of competition should vary with species competitor due interspecific differences timing emergence and plant growth form. The benefits may therefore depend on this plastic response. Phenotypic selection analyses path analysis were used evaluate acting at early late life‐history stages combination germination an annual plant. Velvetleaf (Abutilon...

Abstract Molecular biologists are rapidly characterizing the genetic basis of flowering in model species such as Arabidopsis thaliana. However, it is not clear how developmental pathways identified controlled environments contribute to variation reproductive timing natural ecological settings. Here we report first study quantitative trait loci (QTL) for date bolting (the transition from vegetative growth) A. thaliana seasonal field and compare results with those obtained under typical...

Abstract.— The reliability of environmental cues and costs a fixed phenotype are two factors determining whether selection favors phenotypic plasticity or specialization. This study examines the relationship between these evolution plant competitive strategies (plastic vs. morphologies). In natural populations, shifts in light quality associated with foliar shade reliably indicate presence neighbors. These mediate plastic stem-elongation responses that often increase ability access to light....

Genetic variation for quantitative traits is often greater than that expected to be maintained by mutation in the face of purifying natural selection. One possible explanation this observed action heterogeneous selection wild. Here we report on trait loci (QTL) fitness model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana differs among ecological settings and genetic backgrounds. At one QTL, allele enhanced viability fall-germinating seedlings North Carolina reduced fecundity spring-germinating Rhode...

The selfing plant Arabidopsis thaliana has been proposed to be well suited for linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping as a means of identifying genes underlying natural trait variation. Here we apply LD examine haplotype variation in the genomic region photoperiod receptor CRYPTOCHROME2 and associated flowering time CRY2 DNA sequences reveal strong existence two highly differentiated haplogroups (A B) across gene; addition, possessing radical glutamine-to-serine replacement (AS) occurs within...

Significance Daily rhythms of gene expression ensure that biological processes occur at the optimal time day. In plants, temporally regulated include traits ecological and agricultural importance, understanding how changes in daily modify such has broad implications. We find natural genetic variation can accurately temporal waveforms during day by influencing light signaling pathways, rather than circadian rhythms. further show transcriptional patterns induced alleles are sufficient to...

Rhizosphere microbes affect plant performance, including resistance against insect herbivores; yet, a direct comparison of the relative influence rhizosphere versus genetics on herbivory levels and metabolites related to defence is lacking. In crucifer Boechera stricta, we tested effects population herbivore resistance, primary metabolome, select secondary metabolites. Plant populations differed significantly in concentrations six glucosinolates (GLS), known provide Brassicaceae. The with...

Resistance and tolerance are widely viewed as two alternative adaptive responses to herbivory. However, the traits underlying resistance remain largely unknown, does genetic architecture of herbivory prevalence trade-offs. To address these issues, we measured natural apical meristem damage (AMD) by rabbits in a large field experiment with recombinant inbred lines (RILs) Arabidopsis thaliana (developed from cross between Columbia x Landsberg erecta ecotypes). We also phenological...

Plastic stem-elongation responses to the ratio of red:far-red (R:FR) wavelengths enable plants match their phenotype local competitive conditions. However, elongation early in life history may occur at cost reduced plasticity later history, because influences both allocation patterns and structural integrity. A common-garden experiment was performed test whether seedling R:FR affect biomass allocation, accumulation, subsequent cue. Seedlings Abutilon theophrasti were stimulated elongate by...

ABSTRACT As a rosette plant, Arabidopsis thaliana forms leaves near to the ground, which causes plant be vulnerable shading by neighbours. One mechanism avoid such is regulation of leaf inclination, that can raised more vertical orientations prevent neighbouring from overtopping them. Throughout development, move when shaded leaves, exposed low light levels or placed in dark. After dark‐induced reorientation returning them white reorient horizontal inclinations. These light‐dependent...

Floral traits are commonly thought to be more canalized than vegetative ones. In addition, floral and hypothesized genetically decoupled, enabling structures respond plastically environmental heterogeneity, evolve in response selection without disrupting the reproductive function of flowers. To test these hypotheses, we evaluate genetic architecture natural populations Arabidopsis thaliana raised under variable light-quality environments. Plants were grown either high or low ratios red...

Significance The plant circadian clock affects many aspects of growth and development influences both fitness in natural settings performance cultivated conditions. We show that GIGANTEA ( GI ) underlies a major quantitative trait locus for period Brassica rapa by fine-mapping, analysis heterogeneous inbred lines, transgenic rescue an Arabidopsis gi-201 loss-of-function mutant. Analysis chimeric mutated B. alleles identified the causal nucleotide polymorphism responsible allelic variation...

Polyploidy is well studied from a genetic and genomic perspective, but the morphological, anatomical, physiological consequences of polyploidy remain relatively uncharacterized. Whether these potential changes bear on functional integration or are idiosyncratic remains an open question. Repeated allotetraploid events multiple combinations as overlapping targets artificial selection make Brassica triangle excellent system for exploring variation in connection between plant structure (anatomy...

Abstract Quantitative‐genetic approaches have offered significant insights into phenotypic evolution. However, quantitative‐genetic analyses fail to provide information about the evolutionary relevance of specific loci. One complex and ecologically relevant trait for plants is their resistance herbivory because natural enemies can impose damage. To illustrate combined molecular ecological research, we present results a field study mapping quantitative loci (QTL) tolerance rabbit in genetic...

Although phenotypic plasticity is demonstrably adaptive in a range of settings, organisms are not perfectly plastic. Costs comprise one factor predicted to counter the evolution this strategy, yet evidence costs rare. Here, we test fitness effects plastic life‐history and morphological responses density recombinant inbred lines Arabidopsis thaliana. Several homeostasis were detected. Of particular relevance, there was significant cost active stem‐elongation responses, an trait many species....

The ratio of red to far-red light (R : FR) experienced by seeds during maturation affects germination, but the genetic regulation this effect is poorly understood. In Arabidopsis thaliana, responses R FR are governed five phytochrome photoreceptors, PHYA-PHYE. PHYA, PHYB and PHYE mediate their roles in germination response seed environment largely unknown. Seeds A. thaliana mutants natural accessions were matured a factorial combination cold (16 degrees C) warm (24 temperatures high = 1) low...